Buying a used electric car with 90,000 miles on the clock may not be the gamble many motorists assume. New analysis of 47.4 million MOT tests suggests high-mileage EVs are more likely to pass than petrol cars of the same age.
Between 90,000 and 120,000 miles, electric cars had a failure rate of 16.5%, compared with 22.1% for petrol models. That makes EVs around 25% less likely to fail an MOT in this mileage range – useful news as more ex-company and leasing cars enter Britain’s secondhand market.
Reliability improves at higher mileages
The gap remained beyond 120,000 miles. Around 16% of electric cars failed their MOT, compared with 23.5% of petrol cars.
At lower mileages, the difference between the two fuel types was relatively small. The findings suggest that an EV’s simpler mechanical drivetrain may become an advantage as a car accumulates miles.
The research was carried out by consultancy New AutoMotive for the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA). Toby Poston, the BVRLA’s chief executive, said mileage is often one of the first things buyers consider, with cars passing 60,000 or 70,000 miles sometimes viewed much less favourably.
He said the data suggested that mileage on its own should not put buyers off a well-maintained electric car, adding that confidence in high-mileage EVs would be important in creating an affordable secondhand market.
Tyres and battery health still need checking
The results do not mean every older electric car is automatically a safe buy. EVs recorded nearly twice as many tyre defects as petrol cars in the study.
Older electric cars with relatively low mileage also had more friction-brake defects. Researchers linked this to corrosion caused by brakes being used less often.
An MOT checks statutory roadworthiness, including brakes, tyres, suspension, steering and lights. It does not assess battery health, battery degradation or charging performance, so those details need to be checked separately when viewing a used EV.
Ben Nelmes, New AutoMotive’s chief executive, said the findings challenged the assumption that high mileage necessarily means poor condition. The BVRLA also advised buyers to examine a car’s history, condition, tyres and battery health, just as they would check the engine, gearbox and service record of a petrol or diesel model.
Why this is good news for Britain
More confidence in high-mileage electric cars could help make them accessible to more motorists through the UK’s used-car market. The findings may also help buyers look beyond mileage alone when considering a lower-cost EV, while still checking its battery and overall condition carefully.
